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Scandal - The State of the Union - Review: "A Powerful Speech"

Oct 4, 2014

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After setting series high ratings and audience numbers in last week's fourth season premiere that wasn't what I expected, I didn't know what to expect from Scandal's second episode of the new season.

Titled "The State of the Union", this was one of the most powerful episodes of the political drama that we've seen. It was written by Heather Mitchell and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown.

Last night's episode was heavily character-oriented, with the procedural element amounting to no more than Olivia rallying a couple who couldn't stand the sight of each other, and convincing them to attend the President's State of the Union speech. Once this was sorted, some powerful performances from several lead cast members took over and gave the episode an edge over many that have gone before.

Relationships move faster than Earth can spin on Scandal. The main couples in the form of Fitz and Mellie, and Olivia and Jake, shifted hugely since last week's premiere. The latter seem to have split officially, but one of the series' sexiest scenes in the closing moments ensured that booty calls weren't out of the question. The former grew in the other direction, with Mellie eventually agreeing to be present at her husband's speech and later breaking down as she grieved for her son.

The couple chaos didn't end there, with Quinn and Huck still holding sizeable grudges over events that occurred in the previous season. Cyrus found a new friend, though if he wasn't a sex worker hired by Elizabeth I would have been up in arms saying it was too soon. I do have some sympathy for Cyrus, though a sizable part of me wants to watch him suffer a bit too.

We can't finish the relationship stuff without recalling Olivia and Fitz talking for the first time this season. Fitz seized the opportunity by ordering everyone else from the room and discussing his speech with Olivia. She quickly pointed out the one problem, and Fitz enacted that advice and spoke from the heart in what I think is his best speech of the series to date. As an aside, I though the showrunners had some serious balls to take on the issue of gun violence and school shootings, especially given the negative press both have received in recent weeks. Back on the subject, Fitz introduced his son's death into the speech beautifully, and used it to great effect. Given he's entering a new term in office, I'm fairly certain these topics will resurface, but one only has to remember that no one alive knows the truth.

I really enjoyed the beautiful timeshifting and cinematography in last night's episode. The numerous scenes in black and white, some different camera angles, and places where voiceover from a past event was used to explain the actions on screen worked really nicely. Katie Lowes and Guillermo Diaz did a great job in their brief moments on screen, as did Darby Stanchfield in her role as Abby, especially when giving Bellamy Young's Mellie an earful. Young, Kerry Washington and Scott Foley were consistent as always, as was Jeff Perry. Tony Goldwyn's screen presence when giving Fitz's speech was excellent, and bought the X-factor to the episode. I want to see a stronger performance from Portia de Rossi though.

In all, I don't have any real complaints about the episode. I enjoyed the focus on the characters instead of the procedural stuff, and some interesting groundwork has been laid for next week. Like the premiere, things were a bit slower than I'm used to from Scandal, so I'm hoping there's something in the works to ramp up the pace and intensity.

Thanks as always for reading! Be sure to check out next week's episode press release and promo, and to keep tabs on Scandal's ratings on my television ratings website, www.seriesmonitor.com/scandal. As always, share your thoughts and theories in the comments below!

Jimmy.
About the Author - Jimmy Ryan
Jimmy Ryan lives in New Zealand. He is an avid follower of drama television and has a keen interest for television ratings and statistics. Some of his favorite shows right now are Person of Interest, Scandal, House of Cards, Orphan Black, The Blacklist, The 100, and Castle. You can visit his television ratings website, www.seriesmonitor.com or follow him on Twitter, @SeriesMonitor.
Recent Articles by Jimmy (All Articles by Jimmy)

24 comments:

  1. Good review. I am loving Bellamey Young's work so far this season. And I agree that was a great speech.

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  2. Bellamy Young's acting was beautiful. She had me in tears!

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  3. This was a solid follow-up to a strong season premiere. I loved Mellie in this episode, when she collapsed on the floor she almost had me in tears. Great acting by Bellamy Young.

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  4. I agree, Bellamy Young was the standout again. My only criticism would be of the make-up department who made her look prettier than she should have been when spending all day in her sleepwear.

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  5. I think she's just naturally pretty and they can't make her ugly even if they try.

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  6. AV Club gave it a C+, but I disagree. Bellamy Young stood out so well tonight. I think she needs a golden globe nomination.

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  7. agree that AV club is completely wrong; I also love how toned down this season is, which is in my opinion fantastic, bc. we can get away from the unrealistic, convoluted b613 mess that was last season. Keep it up scandal!

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  8. Anyone can be made to look ugly - but I'm not saying make her ugly because Bellamy Young is the best looking woman on the show. We needed to see some darkness under the eyes, some skin problems, just general tiredness/depression make-up. The make-up people tried but not hard enough

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  9. I think Darby is the prettiest

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  10. I don't know what show you guys are watching but this over the top extra grieving by Mellie is bullshit. It's more guilt than missing her son. She didn't want him and she didn't even want kids. Remember Season 1.06 and Season 213, so, please as much as I love Mellie as this over the top grief is rubbish. Love Abby Telling her about herself. Love Fitz this episode. Think his performance was the best and our real President if he watches could learn some persuasion skills from Tony's acting. I cannot stand Olivia with Jake because he is a murderer(killed James people) He choked her and as a professional smart strong Black woman myself, I cannot imagine laying down with someone who choked in not happening. Plus his acting is weak.

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  11. How could I forget about Cyrus? Being the Bastard that we love to hate. welcome back kind Cy

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  12. I think Olivia is the prettiest, by far.

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  13. I dont find Mellie's portrayal unrealistic; "Guilty" people tend to grieve the worst, didn't you know? Bereavement compounded by remorse is the ultimate recipe for your typical breakdown.

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  14. I agree with you, who can determine the extinct of what a person who lost a loved one should grieve, everyone grieves differently I don't think it's over the top at all, Bellamy Young is killing it of course she didn't want Jerry at first when she thought he was big Jerry's son he died with her thinking that was Fitz's son when Olivia had the DNA switched over the top not at all, timeline only being 3 mos not enough time at all!!!

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  15. I'm still uncomfortable with the fact that Jake's physical violence towards Olivia has gone unremarked on the show, though. The fact that critics also view a woman making love to a man who choked her, made a non consensual tape of her in bed with him and threatened to kill her, sexy illustrates that globally we have a long way to go before domestic violence is taken seriously. This man could have and WOULD have killed her if it was expedient and now we have Booty calls? Really?

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  16. Romanticising Jake and Olivia after his treatment of her is really strange. This man hospitalized her, coached her to lie and choked her. Why is violence towards Olivia the only violence that is unremarkable? Huck choked her and never apologised and Jake chokes her and people SHIP them? In real life, this man would end up killing her, like he did James, like he already threatened to do. How much belief exactly are we supposed to suspend?

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  17. Wait wait wait wait wait...Olivia switched the DNA result???? So he really WAS Big Jerry's son????? *slides off chair*

    How did I miss that little detail?????

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  18. Mellie does not like kids and said so in s2 e13 specifically and other episodes. The kids (Karen and Teddy) she was certain came from Fitz are treated the same way she treated Jerry - out of sight, out of mind. So this over the top grieving is very bizarre. I guess Shonda thinks all the viewers are supposed to forgot Mellie's comments and actions from previous seasons.


    Hell she has even forgotten about Karen and Teddy while drinking and grieving. I nominate her for 'Mother of the Year'.


    Mellie is the most self-centered, selfish person on Scandal which is a feat with all the other characters competing for the honor. I wish Abby had blasted her more harshly. If Mellie does not want the job of First Lady, then leave and get a divorce but stop the constant whining.


    My problem with Scandal over the last two seasons is the writing has everyone acting out of character. OPA would be investigating Harrison's death not Jake. BTW when did technology challenged idiot Jake become a computer hacker? Jake did not even know how to print a couple months ago in Scandal time. Obviously Jake has no purpose for being on the show except as Olivia's boy toy so Shonda has to force him into the story line in an unbelievable way. Why would Rowan leave Jake alive after Jake tried to kill him (S3 E9) and threatened his life when he was temporarily command?



    Also Cyrus would never put himself in such a comprising position. They have had Cyrus and Olivia acting like idiots sometimes over the last two seasons and not the brilliant political operatives they were previously. We see flashes of their brilliance but it is not consistent.


    I'm loving Abby this season and David has finally seen the light if he wants to succeed in Washington.


    Please no more Quinn and Huck. Let OPA focus on work for now.

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  19. Yea, when Fitz was running for the first time Mellie confessed to Ivia that she was raped by big Jerry, and he could possibly be Jerry's son, Harrison quietly bribed the DNA testers to test Jerry, he was found to be big Jerry's they paid the testers to switch the test Fitz doesn't know Jerry was his brother/son, that's a Scandal:)

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  20. I do remember that, I do ask myself what about Teddy and Karen, but like another poster said that guilt is whooping her ass, cause probably her being such a neglectful mother, and I agree with you if she doesn't want to be in the White House anymore she should just Divorce him, they're relatenship is just to toxic!!!!

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  21. Oops, they really are romantisizing violence against women, she trying to hard not to be at the presidents beck and call, that is really something to think about!!

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  22. It was when he was running for reelection i think episode 315. Or 316 could be 317 disliked season 3 so have not rewatched any. Yes they did do a switch a roo with the DNA

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  23. From a female. Hetero perspective Kerry has the most sex appeal and the most attractive. Darby is most beautiful overall from European standard of beauty. But truthfully all the ladies are beautiful in their own right.

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  24. Never considered it from that point of view I guess. Something to consider

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